Automatic pistol



l. N. LEWIS.

AUTOMATIC PISTOL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I3. 1919.

Patented Oct. 3, 11922.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I. N. LEWIS.

AUTOMATIC PISTOL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I3. 1919.

Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 'IIII wvewl'o/L Isaac N. Lew/I5.

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|-. N. LEWISl AUTOMATIC PISTOL. APPLlATloN FILED JAN. 1s. |919.

Patented oet. 3,1922.

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l. NL LEWIS.

AUTUNIATIC PISTOL. APPLICATloN FILED 1AN.13,119.

,Patented Get. 3, 1922.

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Patented Oct. 3, 1922.

STATES ISAAC N. LEWIS, 0F MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC PIS'IOL.

Application led January 13, 1919. Serial No. 270,926.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ISAAC NEWTON LEWIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at l Russell Terrace, Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New J ersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to am automatic pistol in which the gases of discharge rev sulting from the firing of the powder charge of a vcartridge are utilized to reenergize the actuating mechanism of the pistol for the firing of a subsequent cartridge.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved form of automatic pistol in which the lgases of discharge are utilized to produce shocks or rapid pressure irccpulses in accordance with the method described and claimed in co-pending application No. 263823, the shocks or pressure impulses being employed to re-energize the actuating mechanism of the pistol.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic pistol characterized by its extreme simplicity and lightness of construction and arrangement, having a minimum number of parts, and which may be readily and quickly taken rapart for cleaning or other purposes and may be a's readily and quickly re-assembled. p According to the most important feature of the invention, the improved pistol comprises a body portion provided with a handgrip portion, a pistol barrel extending forwardly from tion surrounding and enclosing said barrel, the forward end of the casing portion extending beyond the muzzle end of the barrel and being formed to iniiuence the discharge gases issuing from the barrel to produce a shock or rapid pressure impulse, 'actuating mechanism within said body portion, and means for transmitting said s ock or impulse to said actuating mechanism.

The casing portion may be provided with a forward wall which is apertured to permit the passage of the bullet, but is adapted to momentarily check or retard the forward movement of the discharge gases issuing from the muzzle end of the pistol barre in Automatic Pistols, of.

the body portion, a casing por Alternatively, or in addition to the provision of the apertured end Wall, the side wall of the casing portion may taper forwardly from the muzzle end of the pistol barrel to provide a chamber of gradually reducing cross-sectional area in advance of said muzzle end, serving to check or retard the forward movement of the gases.

In one form the means for utilizing the gases of discharge to produce the shock comprises a chamber and a piston member movable within the said chamber, the movement of the piston member being transmitted to the actuating mechanism of the firearm. The said .chamber is formed between the gun barrel and a casing surrounding the latter along its entire length and extending forwards in front of the muzzle end thereof. At its forward end the Wall of the casing is turned inwards forming an inwardly projecting ange having a central aperture or mouth of slightly greater diameter than that of the bullet. This arrangement permits the free passage of the bullet. When the rear end of therbullet has left the muzzle end' of the gun barrel and during the small fraction of a second the `bullet takes to pass through the .aperture in the end of the casing, the discharge gases expand within the chamber transmltting a wave of high pressure through the air within the chamber, thereby driving lthe piston member backwards and operating the actuating mechanism of the gun. When the rear end of the bullet has left the mouth of the casing the confined gases in the chamber and inside the gun barrel can issue freely through the mouth of the casing. The gases still at high pressure within the gun barrel issue from the muzzle thereof and expand with great turbulence 'within the chamber simultaneously with the escape of gases through the mouth of the casing. During the initial part of this period the pressure wave transmitted rearwardly inside the chamber to the piston memberis increasing in intensity and finally reaches a maximum. The maximum pressure on the piston is succeeded by a fall of pressure, the gases issuing from the mouth of the casing with sufficient kinetic energy to induce a partial vacuum within the chamber and gun barrel. Meantime the piston member is still moving rear- Wards and may bek made to uncover inletvv ports near the reary end of the casing so that a draught of cold air may be drawn through the casing by the draught induced by the kinetic energy of the gases still issuing from the mouth of the casing.

pressure within that portion of the chamber between the muzzle end of'the barrel and the mouth of 'the casing. Thispressure varies rapidly but its maximum and average values are much less than the corresponding values in the case of discharge gases issuing from the muzzle of a gun of ordinary construction. Accordingly, the velocity and momentum of the -discharge gases and therefore also the momentum of recoil of the gun, are all greatly reduced by the present invention, and also the rapidly moving discharge gases as they impinge upon the shock producing obstruction in their path partially neutralize and materially lessen the free recoil of the arm.

Various other features of the invention will be clearly described in detail'her'einafter and specified in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the pistol,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the rear end thereof,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the pistol, showing the operative parts in positions ready to be operated to fire the pistol,

Figure 4 is a similar longitudinal sectional elevation, but showing the operative parts in' the positions they assume at the instant of firing,

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3, and showing the bolt and other parts,

Figure 6 isa sectional plan view takenl on'the line 6 6 of Figure 3, and show- Ving the cartridge magazine,

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 6-7 of Figure 3, and showing the trigger mechanism,

' Figure 8 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on the line 8,-8 of Figure 3, and looking;` toward the rear of the pistol,

igures 9 and 10 are cross-sectional elevations taken ap roximately on the lines .9-9

and 10-10 of lFigure 3, and looking toward the muzzle end of the pistol,

Figures 1l and 12 are cross-sectional elevations taken approximately onV the lines 11-11 and 12--12 of Figure 3, looking to.A

tion of the body portion, Figure 18 being' taken on the line 18-18 ofb'igure 14,

Figures 19 and 2O are respectively front and rear end elevations of the casing portion, i

Figure 21 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of parts of the actuating mechanism of the pistol yshown in the same relative positions as they occupy in Figure 3,

Figure 22 is an elevation, partly in section, looking at the parts shown in Figure 21 from the front thereof,

Figure 23 is a side elevation of a plate member-for securing the body and handgri portions' in place.

igures 24 and 25 are views showing parts of the trigger mechanism in the safety and automatic7 positions thereof,

'Figure 26 1s a plan view of the cartridge magazine, and

Figure 27 is a detail sectional view of the bolt.

The automatic 'pistol illustrated in the drawings comprises three main portions, which are illustrated in assembledl relation.` ship in Figures 1, 3 and 4, and in unassembled relationship in Figures 14, 15 and 16, and may be ytermed the body portion 20, the casing portion 21, and the handto support and enclose all of the operating parts of the piston and they are securely connected together in interlocking relationship to provide a rigid and strong construction of extreme simplicity and economy of Ygrip portion 22. These three portions serve manufacture and involving a minimum umber of parts.

As will be seen from the drawings, particularlyFigures 14, ,17 and 18 thereof, the body portion 20 comprises a substantially cylindrical member provided at the rear thereof and for `approximately half its length with an upstanding projection 23, and formed throughout substantially the remainder of its length with an upper flat surface 24. At its extreme forward, end the body portion 20 is reduced in diameter to provide a cylindrical portion 25 and the front face of the projection 23 is formed 4with a transverse slot or recess 26. The

body portion is provided throughoutl its length with a bore 27, and the projection 23 1s rovided with a bore 28, the at surface 24 in formed with a groove which correspon s in curvature with the lower part of the bore 28 as will be seen from Figure 18. The barrel 29 ofthe pistol at its enlarged rear end is provided with exterior screw threads 30 threaded into the forward end of the body portion 20, Figures 3, 4 and 5, whereby the barrel is rigidly secured to said body portion. At diametrically oppo- Y site omts of its exteriorcylindricalsurface,

' Der.

the ody portion 20 is formed with two lon- 'tudinal grooves or slots 31, which are open at their rear ends but terminate at points in the rear of the forward end of the body portion, as will be seen from Figure 14.

The hand-grip portion 22, see Figures 8 to 13 and 16, is formed at the upper part thereof with a curved portion 32, the interior surface of which is of the same radius as the exterior surface of the cylindrical part of the body portion 20, and this curved portion is provided at its upper extremities with inwardly. extending tongues or ribs 33 adapted to fit into the slots 31 of said body portion. The ribs 33 are of the same length as the slots 31, that is, they extend from therear of the portion 32 to points in the rear of the forward end thereof, as will appear from Figure 16. Thus the hand-grip portion may be connected to or interlocked with the body portion by a forward sliding movement of the former relatively to the latter, the ribs 33 sliding within the slots 31 and the exterior of the body portion snugly fitting the interior of the curved portion 32 of the hand-grip portion. The forward movement of the hand-grip portion is limited by the engagement of the 33y with the forward walls of the slots 31 and in this position of the parts the rear and forward ends of the curved portion 32 are flush with the rear end of the body portion and with the shoulder 34 formed at the rear of the reduced portion 25.

The body portion 20 at the rear end thereof is interiorly screw threaded to receive the threaded portion 35 of a plate 36, Figures 3 and 23, which when screwed into place will engage the rear ends of the body portion and hand-grip portion and will prevent rearward movement of the latter relatively to `the former. The hand-grip portion is thus firmly and securely connected to the body ortion in an extremely simple manhe plate 36 is prevented from unsorewing by means of a rod 37 which passes through an aperture at the upper part of the plate 36, and is connected to the body portion by screw threads 38, the rod extending into the bore 28 for a purpose hereinafter mentioned, and being provided with a `milled head 39 by which it may be manipuremoval of the rod 37 and the lated. By the A the plate 36, the body and unscrewing of forward ends of the ribs' hand-grip portions may be readily separated.

The hand-grip portion 22 is provided at its forward part with cheeks or extensions 40. between which the trigger mechanism is arranged as hereinafter described, the interior surfaces of these extensions being provided with opposedgrooves 41 at the upper forward parts thereof, as will be clearly seen from Figures 8, 9 and 16.

The casing portion 21, Figures 8, 9, 15, 19

(and 20,/"is of Vhollow substantially cylindrical form provided with an upwardlyex` tending projection V42, the exterior configuratlon of the casing portion and its rojection being the same as that of the bo y portlon 20 and' its projection 23. ,The' interior surface of the casing portion is of the same radlus as the exterior surface of the reduced `portion 25 of the body portion, and the upper interior surface of the projection 42 1s o f the same radius as the bore 28 in the projectlon 23. The -projection 42 is provided with a rearwardextension 43, which at its rear end is provided with a transverse tongue 44 adapted to fit the.transverse slot orrecess 26 of the projection 23the exterior` casing portion may thus -be connected to the body and hand-grip portions by a rearward sliding movement which will be limited by the engagement of the rear end of the casing portion with the shoulder 34 of the body portion, the tongues 46 sliding within the grooves 41 and the rear end of the casing snugly fitting over the reduced portion 25 of the body portion. The casing portion is thus connected to and supported by the body and hand-grip portions, while the rear end of the extension 43 is supported from the body portion by reason of the engagement of its tongue 44 within the slot 26.

The casing port-ion is normally locked to the hand-grip portion by means of a locking member 47 pivotally mounted, by means of a screw 48, between the extreme forward ends of the extensions 40, the'head of this member normally occupying a recess 49 formed in the projection 45 of the casing portion. By turning the locking member about its pivot, however, from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4, the fiat or cut-away portion 50 on the head of the locking member is brought opposite to the' recess 49, and the locking member is then rendered ineffective finger grips 52 by ,means of which the lock-l ing member may be readily Vmoved from one position thereof to the other.

The casingportion 2l when in place, ventirely surrounds and encloses the barre-l 29 i of the pistol leaving an annular space 53 between them, and. the forward portion of the casing extends a short distance beyond the muzzle end of the barrel, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4, providing a chamber inadvance of said muzzle end, and communicating with said annular space. In the particular construction illustrated,

. the extreme forward end of the casing portion is turned ainwardly as at 54 in order to provide a forward end wall which'is apertured to permit the passage of the bullet, but which is utilized-to influence the gases of discharge resulting from the firing of a cartridge to produce the shocks or rapid pressure impulses by means o-f which the actuating mechanism of the pistol is operated either automatically or semi-automatically. It will be seen that as the gases of discharge flowing freely from the muzzle end of the barrel, following the discharge of the bullet, come into contact with the apertured end wall 54 of the casing portion, the forward movement of said gases i's momen tarily checked or retarded and this causes the production of an extremely rapid shock or backward pressure impulse which may be transmitted to the actuating mechanism of the pistol in the mannerlater described. The energy of the shock or pressure impulse may be determined by .regulating the size of the aperture in the forward end lwall 54, or by regulating the distance between this wall and the muzzle end o-f the barrel, or by suitably proportioning the size of the aperture and the distance between the same and the muzzlev end of the barrel. By these means a shock or pressure impulse of such energy as to operate the actuating mechanism in the most satisfactory and efcient manner may be produced by the checking or retardation of the discharge gases.

The forward end portion of the casing is illustrated as tapering slightly toward the forward end wall 54, the tapering wall cooperating with the apertured end wall in retarding the forward movement of the discharge gases. The checking or retarding ofthe gases may if desired be effected entirely by tapering the forward portion of .the casing, the end wall 54 being omitted,

and the forward movement of the gases being' checked by their passage through the chamber of radually reducing cross-section formed by t e tapering wall. In this case also the energy of the shock or impulse may be determined by regulating the size of the aperture at the forward end of the casing, or the distance of this aperture from the muzzle end of the barrel, or both thereof.

The aperture at the forward end ofthe casing may be of such size that the chamber provided in advance of the piston barrel is entirely closed at the instant that the bullet passes through said aperture, so that the gases of discharge flow from the barrel into a momentarily closed chamber whereb the shock or pressure impulse is produce The checking or retarding of the gases might be effected by the use of a` forward casing portion of cylindrical form having its extreme forward end open, by so determining the internal diameter of said portion that the free expansion of the discharge gases from the muzzle end of the barrel is momentarily checked as the bullet is discharged.

The shocks or rapid pressure impulses produced as above described are transmitted to a piston member 55 in the form of an annular disc which is slidably mounted upon the barrel 29 and has a working fit within the annular space 53 between the barrel and the casing portion 21. The piston has an upward projection 56 (see Figures 21 and 22)I which extends into and fits within the projection 42 ofl the casing portion, and is reduced in size at 57 in order to enter the slot 58 in the forward end of a. tubular connecting member or rod 59. This member or rod is slidably arranged within the pass-age-l way formed by the bore 28 of the body portion, the grooves of the surface 24 and 'extension 43, and the interior surface. of the.

`slot 62 of the bolt 63. The tubular member 59 fits upon the rod 37 previously mentioned and between the forward end of this rod and theforward wall of the bore of member 59, an actuating spring 64 is arranged, the spring being compressed when the parts are in the rearward positions indicated in Figures 3 and 21.

The bol-t 63 is slidably mounted within the bore 27 of the body portion, and is provided with a projection 65 extending into the slot 61to prevent rotation of the bolt. The forward end of the bolt is reduced in diameter` and provided with spaced locking projecof the barrel 29.

tions 66, adapted to co-ac't with locking projections 67 extendingr inwardly from the wall of the bore 427 adjacent the chambered end A circumferential slot 68 is provided in the wall of the bore 27 said slot communicating with the slot 61. The cam slot 62 in the bolt is provided with inclined surfaces 69 `and 70, see Figure 5.

Slidably mounted within the bolt 63 is a firing pin 71, the forward end or firing point of whlch is adapted in the firing position to extend through an aperture in the forward wall of the bolt to strike the head of a positioned cartridge. The firing pin is formed with a slot into which the post 60 extends.

The bolt is normall held in the rearmost osition indicated in Figure 3, but when reeased, in the manner hereinafter mentioned, the compressed spring 64 presses the. tubular connectin member 59 forwardly and the post 60 o said member by engagement with the inclined surface 69 of the cam slot 62, carries the bolt forwardly, the projection 65 preventing the bolt from rotating. As the bolt advances its forward end engages the head of a cartridge 72 and forces said cartridge in advance of it into the chambered end of the barrel 29. At this time the forward end of the bolt strikesthe rear end ofthe barrel, the locking projections 66 having passed freely between the projections 67 of the body portion, and the projection 65 is brought into register with the slot 68. r[he forward movement of the bolt being thus stopped, the post 60 by pressure against the inclined surface 69 rotates the bolt through substantially an eighth of a revolution, to bring the projections 66 in front of the projections 67, so that rearward move ment of the bolt is positively prevented when the cartridge is fired, the projection 65 moving within the slot 68 and permitting such rotation. After this rotation of the bolt has taken place and it is securely locked against rearward movement, the post 60 ad-` vances into the extreme forward end of the cam slot 62, carrying with it the firing pin 71 into the position shown in Figure 4, the firing point being forcibly projected through the aperture in 'the forward end of the bolt and firing the positioned cartridge.

The forward movement of the member 59 ositions the piston disc 55 at the forward end of the casing portion 21 as indicated in Figure 4, and as the discharge gases produced'by the firing of the cartridge, issue from the muzzle end of the barrel and strike the apertured forward wall of the casing portion, the aforesaid momentary shock or pressure impulse is produced and 1 s transmitted to the piston member 55. This member is thus moved rearwardly by the 'shockor impulse along the barrel 29 and carries with it the connecting member 59 and the operating post 60. During the initial movement of member 59, the post 60 by engagement with the inclined surface of the cam slot 62, rotates the bolt in the reverse direction to that in which it was previously rotated, 1n order to bring the projections 66 into register with the spaces between the projections 67 and the projection 65 into line with the slot 61. The post thenpasses into the rear end of the slot 62 and, by engagement with the rear wall thereof, returns the bolt rearwardly into the position indicated 1n Figure 3, in which osition it is again held, unless the pistol is operated entirely automatically as later explained.

lt will be noted that when the piston 55 is in its extreme forward position, an annular column of air intervenes between it and the forward wall of the casing, and the shocks or pressure impuises are transmitted to the piston through this column 0f air. Thus the discharge gases do not come into actual con tact with the piston, and the latter does not become highly heated, nor is it fouled by `deposits from said gases.

The connecting member 59 is provided with laterally extending grip portions 72 the outer faces of which may be suitably roughened or knurled as indicated. rThese grip portions during the movement of the member 59 work within the lateral slots 73 provided between the lower surface of the extension 43 of the casing portion and the surface 24 of the body portion, said portions extendin slightly from the slots as indicated in igure 13. By gripping these porg tions 72 between the finger and thumb, the member 59 may be manually moved rearwardly to carry the piston 55 and the bolt 63 from the forward positions thereof indicated in Figure 4, to the rearward positions indicated in Figure 3, the actuating mechanism thus being manually cocked or positioned for firing.

The bolt 63 is normally held in its rearmost position by means of a sear 74 engaging the lower forward portion of the piston disc 55, see Figure 3. The sear is. pivotally mounted between the forward cheeks or extensions 40 of the handgrip portion 22, upon a screw 75 threaded into one of said cheeks, and said sear is normally pressed upwardly by a spring 76. A trigger 77 is also pivotally mounted between said cheeks or extensions 40, to the rear of the sear, upon a'pivot pin 78. the trigger having a depending arm by means of which it is pressed and having.` a forwardly extending portion 79 adapted to co-act with the rearwardly extending portion 8() of the sear. A spring 81 normally presses against the depending arm of the trigger so as to force the portion 79 upwardly into the posi tion of Figure 3. By pressing rearwardly against the depending arm of the trigger,

the portion 79 thereof is lowered and this portion, being normally yabove the portion 80 of the Sear, presses said portion down-` wardly and lowers t-he scar into the recessv 82 in the casing portion 21, whereby the piston 55 is freed and is moved forwardly together with the connecting member 59 and bolt 63 in the manner alread described. When the sear 74 is pressed ownwardl by the trigger 77 into substantially the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4, its rearward portion 80 becomes freed from the forward portion 79 of the trigger by reason of the different arcs of movement of these portions and the Sear` snaps back into operative position under the action of its spring 76. ready to again engage and -hold the piston 55 when the latter is returned by the shock or pressure impulse previously A mentioned.. l/Vhen the trig r is released it is returned to the position of Figure 3, by its spring 81 the trigger having an elongated pivot aperture 82 which permits a slight'rearward movement of the trigger to enable the portion 79 thereof to pass by and above the .portion 80 of the sear.

The above described operation of the trigger mechanism is that which occurs during semi-automatic operation of the pistol, that is, when only one cartrid e is red at each pressurev of the trigger, t e shock or pressure impulse being utilized to return the parts t0 cocked or firing positions and to energize the spring 54 for a subsequent operation of the parts.

The parts of the trigger mechanism are however adjustable to enable the pistol to be operated completely automatically, that is to say, the trigger mechanism may be adjusted so that any desired number of car tridges within the capacity of the magazine may be fired at each pressure of the trigger, the shock or pressure impulse resulting from the firing of the irstcartridge energizing the actuating spring 54 which immediately operates to fire the next cartridge, and so on repeatedly. For this purpose, the pivot pin 78 of the trigger is provided with an eccentric portion `83 upon which the trigger is pivoted, an enlarged threaded portion 84 threaded into an aperture in one of the extensions 40, and a handle 85, see Figures 1, 3, 7 and 10. When the handle 85 is in the position indicated in full lines in Figures 1 and 10 and in dotted lines in Figure 4, the trigger is in the semi-automatic position as a ready indicated. When however the pivot pin is pivot in that ligure, the eccentric portion 81, to bring the end of the portion 79 into more extended engagement with the portion 80 of the scar. When now the trigger is pressed, the portion 79 thereof engages the portion 80 of the sear and lowers the latter into the recess 82 in the casing portion 21 as previously described, but owing to the more extended engagement of portion 79 with portion 80, the sear is not freed from the trigger but is held in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 25 during the time the pressure on the trigger is maintained. Thus, when the piston 55 following the firing of the first cartridge is returned to its rearmost position by the resulting shock or pressure impulse, it is` not held by the scar 74 which is in depressed position, but as soon as the forward edge of the bolt passes to the rear of the head ofthe succeeding cartridge, it is again pressed forwardly by the actuating spring 574 to fire said cartridge, the operation being repeated so long as the pressure on the triggez` is maintained, or until the magazine is emptied. Thus any desired number of artridges, or the full number in the magazine, may be fired in continuous succession at one operation of the trigger mechanism 'and thus full automatic operation of the pistol obtained. As soon as the trigger is released, of. course, the sear resumes its normal position ready to engage and hold the' piston 55 on its next rearward movement. The trigger may also be adjusted into a safety position by turning the pivoty pin 78 in a Sounter-clockwise direction through a quarter revolution, from the position indicated in Figures 3 and 4 to that indicated in Figure .24, by moving handle 85 from the full linel "position of Figure 1 to the dotted line igosition to the right of the pivot. in that re. The eccentric portion 83 of the pin will then move the trigger slightly rear- Wardl against the action of the spring81 so that t e portion 79 of the trigger is entirely disengaged from the ortion 80 of the sear. In this position of t e parts, the trigger mag' be pressed without releasing the Sear an causing actuation of 4the pistol, as the portion 79 will simply swing past the end of the portion 80 as indicated by the dotted line in Figure 24. -Thus the pistol may be carried or handled quite safely without danger of undesired operation thereof by accidental pressure against the trigger.

The handle 85 is preferably made somewhat resilient so that it presses frictionally against the exterior surface of the extension 40, whereby it is held in any of the threeis another safety device which may be usedgras ed in the hand in to prevent operation of the trigger excepting when the handgrip portion is properly gripped by the hand in the firing position.

The depending arm of the trigger 77 is provided at its lower end with a notch 86 within which normally engages the forwardly extending arm 87 of a lever 88, this lever being pivotally mounted between the cheeks or extensions 40 of the handgrip portion upon a screw 89. The depending arm of lever 88 is of a resilient nature and normally assumesthe position indicated in `Figure 3, in which it protrudes somewhat fromethe slot or recess between the cheeks 40, see Figure 1, the arm 87 being thus resliently held in the notch 86, and positively preventing pressure of the trigger. When however the handgrip portion is firmly the position which the ngers naturally assume in holding the pistol ready to re the same, the depending a of lever 88 is pressed rearwardly by the ngers into substantially the position indicated in Figure 4, whereby the arm 87 is released from the notch 86 and the trigger 77 is released.

A further safety device 90 may be provided, associated with the bolt 63. This device, as will be seen from Figures Q, 3, 6 and 11 is in the form of a bar or plate slidably mounted in a slot or recess 91 at the upper rear part of the hand grip portion 22. The sides edges of the bar and slot may be dovetailed as indicated in Figures 6 and 10, and preferably said side edges grip each other with sufficient friction to hold the bar in the positions into which it is moved. The bar 90 slides in a plane which lies just in front of the forward end of the bolt when the latter is in its rearmost position, and normally the upper edge of the bar is flush with or below the surface of the bore 27 of the body portion 20, as will be seen from Figure 11. Thus the movements of the bolt are normally not interfered with, but when the bar 90 is pressed upwardly while the bolt is in its rearmost position, it extends in front of the bolt and the latter is prevented from forward movement and locked in its cocked position. The bar is provided with a rearwardlyextending rib or projection 92 which projects beyond the slot 91. This rib is so positioned that when the pistol is gripped in the hand, the rib may be readily enga ed by the thumb to move the bar upwar ly or downwardly to lockor release the bolt.

The cartridges 72^may be and preferably are arranged within a magazine of the nature illustratedin Figures 3 to 6, 13 and 26, which comprises a casing 98 of a width sufficient to receive a double row of cartridges arranged as illustrated inU Figure 13 with the cartridges of each row in' contact with each other, and in contact with the cartridges of the other row, and the-side walls of the casing. The cartridges are pressed upwardly by means of a platformor follower 94 and spring 95 therebeneath, the follower having an upwardly pressed portion 96 so that as indicated in Figure 13, it contacts with and supports the lowermost cartridge of each row. The cartridges are thus positively pressed upwardl in a body without relative movement therebetween, excepting as the cartridges reach the upper end of the magazine, and thus all movement which would cause the cartridges to jam, or otherwise hinder the free upward movement of the same within the magazine is avoided.

The side walls of the magazine casing are inwardly inclined, or converge toward each other at 97 and the extremities of these side walls are inwardly curved at 98, the curvature of the extremities being the same as that of a cartridge 72 whereby a single cartridge may be held between these extremities in the central median plane of the pistol and magazine as indicated in Figure 13.

1t will be understood that as the. cartridge 72 positioned between the curved extremities 98 is removed from the magazine by the bolt 63, and the body of cartridges is pressed upwardly by the spring 95 and follower 94, the u permost cartridge 72a will contact with tilie inclined surface 97 and will be directed or pressed inwardly by said surface toward the median plane of the magazine, the cartridge being finally pressed by the cartridge 7 2* beneath it into central position between the extremities 98. On the next forward movement of the bolt 63, the cartridge 72a will be removed from the magazine, and as the body of cartridges is again movd upwardly, the cartridge 72" of the other row contacts with the inclined surface 97 of the opposite side wall and is pressed or directed inwardly toward the median plane of the magazine and nally positioned between the extremities 98. This action is repeated at each upward movement of the cartridges, and it will be noted that the cartridges are taken alternately from the two rows in the magazine. Each cartridge as it is positioned for removal, occupies the identical position occupied by its predecessor, and follows identically the same path as its predecessor followed in its movement from the magazine into the chambered end of the pistol barrel, so that absolute uniformity is obtained in the feeding 0f the cartridges into the-barrel.

The curved extremities 98 extend forwardly approximately half the length of the ma azine so that the cartridge is properly he d until during the forward movementthereof its bullet end shall have been guided b the inclined surface 99 into the end of tliie barrel` at which time the cartridge is released and thrown upwardly slightly and then pressed by the bolt into `firing position as indicated in Figure 4.

The magazine 93 is positionedwithin an aperture or recess 100 in the handgrip portion 22, preferably with the front and rear Walls thereof perpendicular to. the longitudinal axis of the pistol, so that the care tridges are always positioned with their 22 is interiorly` formed. to fit the upper end of the magazine, as will be seen from F igure'V 13, and the extremities 98 lextend. into a slot or aperture 101 in vthe body portion 20, communicating with the bore 27 thereof, ythe positioned cartrid es extending sulioiently Within said bore l(for the bolt to properly enage and remove the same, as also seen 1n igure 13. The magazine may be held in place 1n the hand grip portion 21 by'any suitable form of retaining device, such as that illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. rlhe hand grlp portion is provided adjacent its upper en-d wlth a transverse aperture 102, which is threaded at one end, and within this aperturek is arranged` a bar 103, having a screw-threaded part 104 at one end thereof, threaded into the end of the aperture 102, and a head 105 at its other end which may be roughened or knurled asindicated in Figure 1. This bar 103 has an integral catch 106, adapted to extend into a notch or aperture 107 provided at the upper end of the front wall of the magazine. The bar 103 is of a resilient nature, and in addition it may be pressed rearwardly by the spring 81 of the trigger mechanism extending 1nto the aperture 102. Thus when a magazine is inserted in the hand grip portion and is pressed into place, the catch 106 will engage the aperture 107 and hold the magazine against accidental displacement, but when the magazine has been emptied and it is desired to replace the same, the head 105 may be pressed forwardly to release the catch 106 from the aperture 107, when the magazine will fall or may be removed from the hand grip portion.

The forward end of the bolt 63 is recessed at 108 and the head of the cartridge extends into this recess when the bolt is in its forward position, see Figure 3. An extractor member 109 also extends into the recess 108 so as to engage in front of the rim at the head of the cartridge. This extractor membei comprises a cfurved body portion 110 having the forwardly extending extractor 109 and the resilient arms 111, see Figure 27. The reduced forward end of the bolt Ibly let into the surface .ofthe bolt so as to lie flush with the exterior surface thereof.

As the bolt moves rearwardly the empty extractor and carried rearwardly by the bolt until the ejector memberV 113 strikes the head of the shell at a point opposite the extractor whereby the shell is ejected sidewise out through an ejection aperture 114 cut through the side walls of the body portion 20 and hand grip portion 22, see Figures 1 and 5., The ejector member 113 comprises a stri of resilient material mounted 1n a longitu inal slot 115 in the lbody portion 20, as seen in Figures' Aand 12, the

member being inserted from the rear end of the body portion and being held in place by the plate 36. The forward endof the member 113 normally tends to move inwardly into the position indicated in Fi ure 5, but as the bolt moves forwardly this member is pressed outwardly `into the slot 115 by the surface of the bolt. As the bolt moves rearwardly however the forward end of the ejector moves inwardly into a slot 116, cut in the forward end of the bolt, so as to engage the head ofthe empty shell carried by the bolt to cause ejection thereof. The forward end of the .ejector member is of course positioned so as to engage the head of the shell at the proper instant in the travel of the bolt.

The` pistol may be provided with front and rear sighting projections 117 and 118 formed on the bodyportion 20 and casing portion 21 respectively, or V'anyotherv forms of sighting devices may be provided.

The rod 37 may have its forward end formed to serve as a screw driver forthe various screws of the trigger mechanism, thus rendering the use of other tools unnecessary in assembling or disassembling the various parts of the pistol. l

In assembling the parts of the pistol illustrated in the drawings, the locking member 47, spring 76, sear 74, trigger 77 and lever 88 are mounted between the extensions of the hand-grip portion by means of the respective pivot pins or screws and the member 103 is secured within the aperture 102 with the spring 81 between it and the trigger 77. The locking member 90 is also placed 1n the recess 91 in its lowermost position. The hand-grip portion may then be mounted lshell is withdrawn vvfrom' the barrel by the on the body portion by a forward sliding movement with the tongues 33 moving within the slots 31, the forward movement being limited by the closed ends of the slots. The

ltwo portions are then locked together by The piston 55 is mounted on the pistol barrel also in its forward position and the connecting member 59 may then be positioned in alignment with the bore 28 with the post 60 entering the slot 62 in the bolt and the slot in the firin pin and the recess 58 at the forward end of said member receiving the reduced end 57 of the piston. The ejector member 113 is also positioned within the slot 115 and` held therein by the plate 36 when the latter is screwed home. The rod 39 is then connected to the body ortion in order to hold the plate 36 in position and to provide an abutment for the rear end of the spring within the member 59.

The casing portion may then be connected to the hand-grip and body portions by sliding the same rearwardly with its tongues 46 within the grooves 41 of the extensions 40 so that its rear end will fit over the reduced end 25 of .the body portion and the ton e 44: will enter the slot 26 of the body portlon. During such movement' the locking member 47 will occup-y the dotted line position in Figure 4 and this member is then'moved to the full line position in order to lock the casing portion in place. rlhe bolt 63 and piston 55 may be manually moved rearwardly into cocked position b-y gripping the portions 7 2 and moving them rearwardly within the slots 73. A cartridge magazine may then be pressed upwardly in the recess of the hand-grip portion and it will be retained in position by the member 103. Adjustment of the trigger 77 into the automatlc or semiautomatic position will then render the pistol ready for firing.

It will be recognized that the construction is of extreme simplicity, capable of ready manufacture and that it involves a minimum number of parts. `At the same time the construction is strong and rigid. The parts can be easily and quicklyv assembled or disassembled without the use of tools other than the rod 37.

By the utilization of the gases of dis,

-single round or any may at will be adjustabl operated to fire a dlesired number of rounds within the capacity of the magazine at each pressure of the trigger.

With the use of the improved cartridge magazine an automatic pistol is obtained which Vprovides for the firing of a considerably increased number of cartridges withoutl changing the magazine, and without increasing to an extent the size of the hand-grip portion o the pistol. In the particular construction illustrated, provision is made for the firing of fifteen cartridges without increasing the size of the hand-grip portion 4over that usually necessary for the firing of seven or eight cartridges.

It will of course be understood that the invention in its broad aspects is not restricted to the particular details of construction and arrangement described above as the structural arrangement and design of the various parts of the pistol may be varied as may be necessary or desirable within the scope of the appended claims. For example it may be pointed out as perhaps the most important structural change which might be made that the hand-grip portion might be formed in one piece with the body portion, although it may be preferable for manufacturing reasons to make these portions separate in the manner hereinbefore described. Other structural changes will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

1. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion having a hand-grip portion, a barrel extending forwardly from said body portion, a casing portion carried by said body portion and surrounding said barrel, aligned longitudinally extending pro'ections on said casing and body portions forming a bore or passageway, a member movable within saidv casing portion, a bolt movable within said body portion, and a connecting member between the first member and the bolt movable within said passageway.

2. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion having a hand-grip portion, a barrel extending forwardly from said body portion, a casing portion carried by said body portion and surrounding said barrel, aligned longitudinally extending projections on said casing and body portions forming a bore or passageway, a member movable within said casing portion, a bolt movable wit-hin said body portion, a connecting member between the first member and the bolt movable within said passageway, slots formed in said body and casing portions and manual operating projections on said connecting member movable within said slots.

3. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion having a hand-grip portion, a bar- :aligned longitudinalll rel extending forwardly from said body portion, a casing portion carried by said body portion and surrounding said barrel, extending projecL tions on said casing an body portlons formling a bore or passageway, a member movvable within said casing portlon, a bolt movable within said body portion, a tubular connecting member between the first member and the bolt movable within said passage- Way, and a recoil spring within said connecting member tending to move the same forwardly. ,l

4. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion having a hand-grip portion,` a barrel extending forwardly fromf said body portion', a casing portion carried'by said and a projection on the first member extend-.

ing into said slot.

5. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion having a hand-grip portion, a barrel extending forwardly from said body portion, a casing portion surrounding said barrel and connected to said body portion, a member movable within said casing portion, a bolt movable within said body portion, means connecting said member and bolt, and a trigger mechanisml carried by said hand-grip portion and co-acting with said member.

6. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion, a barrel extending forwardly from said body portion, breech mechanism within and supported by said body portion, a handgrip portion detachably connected to said body portion, and trigger mechanism carried by said hand-grip portion and removable as a unit therewith and controlling the operation of said breech mechanism.

7. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion, a barrel extending forwardly from said body portion, breech mechanism within and supported by said body portion, a handgrip portion longitudinally slidably connected to said body portion, means normally preventing relative movement between said hand-grip and body portions, and trigger mechanism carried by said hand-grip portion and removableY- as a unit therewith and' controlling the operation of said breech mechanism, 8. An automatic pistol comprising a bod portion, al barrel extending forwardly therefrom, breech mechanism within said body portion, longitudinal grooves at opposite' sides of said body portion, said grooves being open at one end thereof and closed at the other end, a hand-grip portion slidably -itting said body portlonv and having 1ongitudinaly tongues slidably fitting said grooves, means normally preventing relative movement between said body and handrip portions, and trigger mechanism carrie by said hand-grip portion and controlling said breech mechanism.

9. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion, a barrel extending forwardly therefrom, breech mechanism within said body portion, a hand-grip portion, trigger mechanism carried by said hand-grip portion and removable therewith as a unit and controlling saidbreech mechanism, a easing portion surrounding said Abarrel and occupying a fixed position relatively thereto, and means detachably connecting said casing, body4 portion together in trigger mechanism carried by said handy gripportion, and controllin said breech mechanlsm, a casing longitudinally slidably` connected with said hand-grip portion, and means normally preventing yrelative movement between said casing and hand-grip portion. l

12. An automatic pistol comprising a body ortion, a barrel extending forwardly there rom, breech mechanism within said body portion, a hand-grip portion'longitudinally slidably connected with said body portion, trigger mechanism carried by said hand-grip portion and controlling said breech mechanism, a member rotatably connected with said body portion and normally engaging said hand-grip portion to prevent relative movement between said portions, and mea-ns normally preventing rotation of said member.

13. VAn automatic pistol comprising a body portion, a barrel extending forwardly therefrom, 'breech mechanismv within said body portion, a. hand-grip portion detachably connected to said body portion, a casing portion surrounding said barrel and detachably connected to said hand-grip portion, a member movable within said casing portion, means connecting said member with said breech mechanism, and a trigger mechanism carried by said hand-grip portion co-acting with said member to control said breech mechanism.

14:. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion, a barrel extending forwardly there rom, breech mechanism within said body portion, a hand-grip portion carried by said body portion, trigger mechanism in said hand-grip portion controlling said breech mechanism, an undercut longitudinal recess in said Yhand-grip portion, a lcasing surrounding said barrel and having a longitudinal projection slidable within said recess, and means normally preventing relative movement between said casing and hand-grip portions.

15. An automatic pistol comprising a. body ortion, a barrel extending forwardly there rom, breech mechanism within said body portion, a hand-grip portion carried by said body portion, trigger mechanism in said hand-grip portion controlling said breech mechanism, part of said hand-grip portion, longitudinal grooves in the walls oi? said recess, a casing portion surrounding said barrel and having longitudinal tongues slidably fitting said ooves, and a locking member pivotally mounted between the walls of said recess normally co-acting with said casing portion to prevent relative movement between the same and the hand-grip portion, said locking member being movable to permit said re ative movement.

16. An automatic pistol comprising a body ortion, a barrel extending forwardly there rom, breech mechanism 'within sai body portion, a hand-grip portion carried by said body ortion, trigger mechanism in said hand-grip portion controlling said breech mechanism, a recess in the forward part of said hand-grip portion, longitudinal grooves in the walls of said recess, a casing rtion surrounding said barrel and having longitudinal tongues slidably fitting said grooves, a locking member pivotally mounted between the walls' of said recess normally co-acting with said casing portion to prevent relative movement between the same and the hand-grip portion, said locking member being movable to permit said relative movement and having'a bifurcated portion resiliently engaging the walls of said recess to hold said member in locking position.

17. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion having a hand-grip portion, a barrel extending forwardly from saidbody portion, breech mechanism within said body portion, trigger mechanism 1n said handgrip portion controlling said breech mechaa recess in the forward d both said nism, a casing portion-surrounding said barrel, said casing slidably fitting the forward part of said body portion and having a rearward extension, a tongue and groove connection between said extension and body portion, and means normally preventing relative movement between said casing and body portions.

18. An automatic pistol comprising .a body portion having a hand-grip portion, a barrel extending forwardly from said body portion, breech mechanism within said body portion, trigger mechanism in said handgrip portion controlling said breech mechanism, a casing portion surrounding said barrel, said casing slidably itting the forward part of said body portion and having a rearward extension, a tongue and groove connection. between said extension and body portion, means normally preventing relative Imovement between said casing and body portions, slots formed 'between said extension and said body portion, and an operating member slidable within said casing and bod portions and connected to said breech mec anism, said member having operating projections extending` outwardly through said slots.

19. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion, a barrel extending forwardly from said body portion, breech mechanism within said body portion, a hand-grip portion detachably connected to said body portion, trigger mechanism carried by said hand-grip portion and controlling said breech mechanism, a casing portion surrounding said barrel and connected with body portion and said hand-grip portion, and means for lpreventing disconnection of said casing bod portion and hand-grip portion.

20. An automatic pistol comprising a body portion, a barrel extending forwardly therefrom, breech mechanism within said body portion, a hand-grip portion detachably connected to said body portion, trigger mechanism carried by 'said hand-grip portion and controlling said breech mechanism, a casing surrounding said barrel mounted on said body rtion and having a connection with said and-grip portion, means preventing disconnection; of said body and hand-grip portions, and means on 'said handgrip portion preventing disconnection lof said casing.

In testimon whereof I aiix my signature ,in presence o two witnesses.

isiiiic N. Lewis'.

Witnesses A LvIN OnLsnN, ARTHUR' O.v Simonis. 

